OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA INSTITUTE OF PROFESIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Introduction A large plantation is a large artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale and often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption. The term plantation is informal and not precisely defined. Crops grown on plantations include fastgrowing trees, cotton, coffee, tobacco, some oils seeds and rubber trees. The term of plantation has usually not included large orchard, but does include the planting of tree for lumber. A plantation is always a monoculture over a large area does not include extensive naturally occurring stands of plants that have economic value. Intergrated can be defined as combining or coordinating separate elements to provide a harmonious and interrelated. While pest is an insect or other small animal that could harm or destroys garden plants, trees, or crops. In plantation, not only pest can cause problem but there a lots of diseases can attack the crops. That is why we need to know what the best solutions to solve this entire problem are. But, we cannot depend one type of solution as we need to take care a big area like plantation. Then, we have introduced to Integrated Pests Management. Integrated Pests Management (IPM) is the use of holistic and compatible methods of pest control to reduce economic injury caused by pests. IPM removes the overdependence on pesticides, making the process more sustainable. The main pest within the plantation includes rats, bagworms, nettle caterpillars and rhinoceros beetles. There lots of different approaches can be taken by plantation grower in order to maximize the profit from plantation. All this approaches are shown in the content of this assignment.

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The Principle of Crop Plantation

One of the principles of crop plantation is spraying equipment. The spraying systems commonly used are Conventional Knapsack Sprayer (CKS), Controlled Droplet Application (CDA), mistblower and mechanical application. Among all the techniques, Controlled Droplet Application (CDA) is one of the very useful technique that should be thinking of applying in plantation. Controlled Droplet Application (CDA) sprayers are being increasingly used nowadays. It have been proven to be more cost effective than Conventional Knapsack Sprayer ( CKS). Saving on labour, water, transport and the effectiveness of translocative herbicides have popularized its use. Some of Cda applicators available in the market are Micron Herbi, Samurai, Shogun and so on. Controlled Droplet Application (CDA) uses the centrifugal energy from a spinning dics to produce spray droplets of a narrow droplet size spectrum. This techniques emphasizes the importance of applying the correct size of droplets for a given target, and also the uniformity of droplet size to optimize use of the minimum volume and dose to achieve effective control. The usual spray volume aimed for is 25 liters/ha even though lower volumes can be achieved. The spray droplets average 250 microns which are considered large enough to minimize drift but small enough to provide good coverage and not prone to fun-off.

2.0 Pests Pests have many definitions according to their situations. In life sciences and allied application or agriculture, pests means any organism that damages crops, injuries or irritates livestock or man , or reduces the fertility of land. Prophylactic spraying against insect pests is usually not recommended. However, regular inspection for emergence of pests should be carried out and in the event of an attack, prompt action should be taken. 2.0 Bagworm and Nettle caterpillar Bagworm includes Metisa Plana, Cremastopsyche pendula and Mahasena corbetti. This is a serious of oil palm. The caterpillar feed on leaf tissue and if present in large numbers, it can practically defoliate a palm. In general, chemical control will be recommended when the level of infestation exceeds 5 active larvae per frond. Trunk injection with Azodrin / Tamaron special at 10ml/palm. In special circumstances, high volume ground spray with Dipterex 95 WP may be recommended. Special spraying may be considered if the area of infestation exceeds 100 ha. Mean while, nettle caterpillar include Setora nitens, Thosea asigna, darna trima, Ploneta Diducta). These caterpillar are brightly coloured, have stinging spines and feed on oil palm leaves. Severe damage can result in a total loss of foliage. Chemical control will be recommended when the infestation level exceeds 5 active larvae per frond.

2.1 Intergrated Pests Management (IPM) for bagworms and Nettle caterpillars. Recognizing the need to manage the populations of the pests, the plantation industry in Malaysia has since the 1960s adopted the strategy of Integrated Pests Management (IPM) to minimize crop loss. Bagworm and nettle caterpillar are moths whose larvae can cause severe damage to oil palm by their feeding activity on foliage of the crop. Experience has shown that

bagworm and nettle caterpillar populations tend to increase when the palm oil environment is modified towards unconducive for the survival of natural enemies of the pests. This could be due to cultural practices like replanting and pollution, and agronomic practices like indiscriminate spraying of pesticides.

It is very important to make sure the state of equilibrium between the pests and their enemies is maintained. To reduce these problems, there are some approaches can be taken such as the use of census systems for early warning of pests presence, use of selective pesticides and non-disruptive application techniques, planting of beneficial plants and biological control with predators and entomopathogens. In monitoring approaches, there are two census systems have been developed. The first being census that is carried out at fixed grid points in every 2.5 ha of oil palm. The other system are divides the monitoring into two steps which are detection and enumeration. Detection entails visual detection of fresh damage, broad identification of causative agents and recording the extent of apparent damage. While, enumeration carried out the quantify the extent of damage, species involves and intensity of attack. Many oil palm growers now prefer to use the second system. The decision to treat is based on pests level exceeding arbitrary economic threshold ranging from 5 10 larvae per frond, depending on the species involved. By the use of such census, it will be possible to identify pest presence at its formative stages. This will allow early and limited treatment. The treatment of choice for bagworms and nettle caterpillar would be the trunk injection of systemic insecticides. This is because the technique obviates the open spraying of insecticides thus affording a most environmentally friendly mode of pesticide application.

Other than that, the palm oil grower also can use beneficial plants. Some plants with nectar bearing flowers are known to encourage populations of predators and parasitoids of oil palm bagworms and nettle caterpillars. The milkweed Euphorbia heterophylla is seen as the most attractive to natural enemies of the pests establishment of such plants in open areas such as roadsides and drain edges surrounding oil palm fields is encouraged. Other beneficial plant is Antigonon leptopus which also useful in encouraging leaf pest natural enemies. Besides that, we also have biological control approach. Biological control of bagworms and nettle caterpillars are effected by the use of entomopathogens like viruses and cordyceps and the breeding and release of predators. Non-occluded spherical and granulosis viruses have been found in the nettle caterpillar Darna Trima and Setothosea Asigna and these pests have been effectively controlled by spraying a mixture of crushed infected larvae and water back into the fields. Pupae of nettle caterpillars that infected by the entomopathogenic fungus is belonging to genus. The fungus could thus be as a bio-insecticide against these two species of oil palm pests. In other hand, the other approach is the use of predators. Biological control of both bagworms and nettle caterpillar have been helped by the breeding of predatory pentatomid bugs such as Cantheconidea Furcellata and Platynopus melacanthus for realese in field. These bug can be readily bred in captivity by feeding their nymphs with larvae of easily collected insects like Spodoptera litura, Sylepte Derogota and Tenebrio Molitor.

3.0 Rats In Malaysia, there are three species of pest rats are commonly found in oil palms which are wood rat Rattus Tiomanicus, the house rat Rattus Diardii and the rice fields. The oil palm environment is a rich source of food and breeding grounds for rodents and their populations can

very quickly build up to 300 to 600 animals per ha of plantation if not controlled. Rats are conventionally controlled with anticoagulant poison baits. Although this has been effective for many years, cases of anticoagulant resistance in rats have been established, this being an inevitable undesirable consequence of overdependence on pesticides. In immature plantings, rats may grow through the petiole base and occasionally even chew through to the bud causing death of the palm. The rat damage is usually more serious in mature areas where ripe and unripe fruits are eaten. In addition, loose fruits could be carried away and totally lost. The rat population could increase very rapidly if left uncontrolled and in severe cases 15% of the crop or more could be lost in infested areas. Regular rat baiting campaigns must be carried out in all mature oil palm areas in order to minimize the incidence of rat damage. First of all, is a routine campaign. Rat baiting campaigns must be carried out twice a year, that is approximately 6 months intervals whether or not there is visible evidence of rat damage. A campaign is major operation while a round is the process within the campaign. Second, we can use warfarin based rat baits. Third, we can bait intensity and placement. Fourth, do replacement of taken baits and then acceptance. Next, minimize baiting rounds. After that, we can do baiting programme within the estate, between estates. At lasts, do baiting records. Genarally, it is important to plan out and monitor rat baiting campaigns well for cost-effectiveness, taking into consideration factors such as monsoon rains, labour availability, carrying stock of only correct requirement of baits at any given time.

3.1

The Intergrated Pests Management of Rats in Oil Palm Plantation. One of the approach that can be used to control rats in palm oil plantation is barn owl.

There is a study that have been carried out found that a limiting factor to the proliferation of barn owls in oil palm plantations would be the availability of nesting sites. The setting up of

appropriate owl boxes was proven to increase barn owl populations. This work was investigated further by the Palm Oil Research Institute of Malaysia (PORIM) in collaboration with private plantation companies. 4.0 Porcupines Porcupine may be found in oil palm areas cleared from jungle and they could cause serious damage especially to newly planted or young palms. It would be useful to check with the local people on the presence of porcupines before clearing operation commence in order to be alert and prepared for possible damage after filed planting. If its present is confirmed, it would be prudent to protect the young palms immediately after planting. 5.0 Diseases In the pre-nursery, prophylactic spraying with fungicide should be carried out at weekly intervals using Antracol 70 WP ( 20g in 10 liter water) alternating with Dithane M45 (20g in liter water). Spraying should be carried out after the seedlings have been watered. Here are some diseases that could be face in plantation. Firstly, early leaf diseases. The causal organism is Botrydiplodia and Glomerella. The symptoms are browning of leaflets spreading from leaf tip. It can be sharply defined boundary between healthy and diseases tissues. But it can be controlled by spraying with 0.2% Thiram 75WP or 0.2 % Dithane M45 at 5 to 7 day intervals until effectively controlled. Second, is seedling blight that could be caused by Curvularia. The symptoms are dark brown lesions on leaves. Lesions have a sunken centre and are surrounded by a bright yellow halo. It can be controlled by spraying with 0.2% Antracol 70WP at 7 to 10 days intervals until effectively controlled.

Third, is a leaf spot. Which cause by Helminthosporium. The symptom are dark brown spots surrounded by chlorotic halo which gradually turns yellow. As lesions enlarge and coalesce the leaf dies back from tip and margin. To control it, we can use early leaf diseases approach controlled. Next is, leaf rot diseases which cause by Corticium. The symptoms are rows of dark brown lesion which dry out to become grey to white in colour with purplish brown margins. It can be controlled just like early leaf diseases. And for blast, there is no fungicidal cure at present. There is no action to be taken for crown diseases as the palms will outgrow this disorder. For marasmius bunch rot, it can be approach by remove all masses of colonized tissues. Then, for basal stem rot, estate staff should be trained to identify and report incidence of Ganoderma palms. These palms should be marked and badly diseases palms should be poisoned and excavated.

6.0

Weed Management in Plantations Weeds can be described as unwanted plants in a cropping area. It interferes with the

cultivation of the main crop, obstruct or impede agronomic practices, which can reduce efficiency of crop recovery and affect the upkeep standards of estate management. Weeds also compete with the main crop for nutrient, moisture and light. The competition is evident in the reduction of the dry weight of the crop plant. The objective of weed control is to maintain ground condition which is favorable for growth of the palms and management operations at minimum cost. Herbicide is an expensive chemical for weed management. So that, the need to plan and controlled the usage of Herbicides to ensure the usage are carefully and applied efficiently. Spraying programme can be divided into two phase which is immature areas and mature areas. For immature areas, the palm circles should be kept free from weeds initially by hand

weeding to be followed by chemical weeding. This is necessary to reduce the chances of herbicide scorch of the newly transplanted young seedlings. In general, manual weeding is preferred during the first six months of planting. It is important to ensure that there is no damage to the lower palm fronds and no spray drift to the spear during chemical spraying. Maintenance should be up to the drip circle with a maximum of 1.8 m ( 6 ft) from base of the palm. For interrow maintenance, regular weeding should be carried out in the first 24 months to ensure good establishment and growth of the legume covers. For low-growing grasses such as Ottochloa Nodosa, Paspalum Conjugatum may be toleranted. But, it is important for Mikania Micrantha should be eradicated. Great care should be taken to ensure that spray drift does not come into contact with the young palms. For mature crop, the palm circle maintained relatively weed free to facilitate loose fruit collection. In general, a circle of 2.5 m (8ft) radius should be adequate. Chemical weeding with appropriate herbicides is preferred. For inter-row maintenance, the selective weeding should be carried out as with immature palms. The harvesting paths should be maintained to ensure easy access. This can be economically maintained by using an appropriate herbicide or herbicide cocktail.

7.0

Conclusion As conclusion, we cannot depend on pesticides or chemical solution in controlling pest

and diseases in plantation. Have been proven other approaches or solutions like usage of beneficial plants, biological control and also the usage of predators are very useful and effective approaches in helping controlling pest and diseases in plantation. Train staff also needed in helping of managing the plantation. For the problems causes by rat, other than chemical control, we can emphasize of the barn owl usage. As it more natural approaches, it can be handling with low-cost. As the crop need to be taking care from planting phase till harvesting phase, manageable and well planned of plantation are needed in order to minimize of lost and maximize of profits. The use of early warning systems, selective pesticide intervention and the encouragement of self sustaining biocontrol agents and element in the field are paramount towards this. For weed management, in order to achieve effective control of the selective spraying, it is essential to carry out spraying at the suitable time weather and with the correct spray volume to achieve the required uniform coverage. Other than that, follow-up rounds are necessary to achieve complete eradiacation of noxious weeds.

References Plantation (n.d). Retrieved from Wikipedia website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantation

Sime Darby Plantation (n.d). Retrieved from http://www.simedarbyplantation.com/intergrated_ Pest_Management_.aspx

Integrated. (n.d.). Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. Retrieved from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/integrated

Pest. (n.d.). Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. Retrieved from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pest